Flood and Pakistan Red Crescent

Waqar Fani Mughal

In June this year, record rainfall broke all previous records during the prolonged
monsoon, inundating
One-third of the country. The southern and central parts of the country were the
worst affected. Especially Sind and Baluchistan suffered irreparable damages. The
flood water flowing from the canals has submerged more than 80 percent of the
areas of Sindh , Baluchistan and South Punjab. The water is stagnant and
various diseases are also breaking out. And the resulting impacts such as
landslides have affected around 33 million people across the country.
The latest published report of the National Disaster Management Authority
indicates that around 33 million people across the country have been affected by
rains, floods and their consequent effects such as landslides. Between June and
September 2022, at least 1,693 people were killed, including 629 children, and
12,865 people were injured, while nearly 2 million homes were partially damaged
or completely destroyed. Livelihoods have also been heavily affected, with over
1,067,241 livestock killed, which were an important source of life , livelihood for
many families.
Floods have turned large parts of Punjab and Sindh into lakes. 97 million people
have been displaced and 600,000 are living in relief camps. More than 1.5 million
houses have been damaged in Sind. Covering 13,000 km. Highways were
destroyed, 410 bridges were washed away. 23,900 schools and 1460 health
centers were destroyed. More than five thousand educational institutions are
being used as temporary relief center. An estimated 3.5 million children's
education was affected and learning was disrupted. About 800,000 Afghan
refugees live in districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab that have been
officially declared "disaster-affected". In Sindh alone, more than 1.2 million
hectares of agricultural land has reportedly been damaged. Fruit orchards and
standing crops have been submerged.

Significant health risks, including water-borne diseases such as cholera and
diarrhea, which can lead to the death of many children. Other risks include the
spread of malaria, COVID-19 and dengue in overcrowded relief camps. Floods
have devastated drinking water supplies. Nearly 80% of households report lack of
access to clean water – and many have no choice but to drink unsafe or
contaminated water. Flood-affected Pakistan People in the areas are in dire need
of cash assistance, shelter repairs, food items, clean water, and medicine.
Many towns and villages in Pakistan are still submerged in floodwaters and
thousands of households are yet to see dry land. However, relief efforts are
ongoing to deal with the flood disasters. Government figures show that cash
assistance has been given to 2.8 million people so far. Pakistan Red Crescent is a
humanitarian organization of the first rank of the country. It is committed to
preventing and ending human suffering by mobilizing human power through
volunteers. Pakistan Red Crescent, with the support of movement partners, has
always provided assistance to the affected population. Red Crescent is serving
every affected family without any color or caste, without discrimination.
The main objective of Pakistan Red Crescent is to work before, during and after
disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of
vulnerable people. 500 Red Crescent volunteers are engaged in relief work in Sind
and Baluchistan. Relief materials were distributed to 500 affected families in
Larkana, while in Jacobabad, a ceremony was held at St. John's Grammar School
in which 500 families received relief. MPA Mr. Muhammad Aslam Abaro
participated in the ceremony. Pakistan Red Crescent Chairman Sardar Shahid
Ahmad Laghari distributed relief packages among the affected people.

The relief package includes household items including a kitchen set, 2 tarpaulin
sheets, 2 blankets and a tent. Red Crescent is always there to soothe the suffering
humanity; we work with our movement partners and other organizations with a
coordinated strategy for reconstruction, rehabilitation. Pakistan Red Crescent has
done valuable work in rescue, relief. In this way, Sardar Shahid Ahmad Laghari
also distributed relief packages to the affected people in the ceremony held at
Eidgah Sheikh Zayed Colony, Larkana.

Meanwhile, President of Turkish Red Crescent (Turkish Red Crescent) Mr. Dr.
Karim Kanak and Chairman of Red Crescent Pakistan Mr. Sardar Shahid Ahmad
Laghari along with International Federation Undersecretary Xavier Catsellanos
and Peter P. Hoff visited the flood affected areas of Sind. , reviewed the needs
and problems carefully. Distributed tents and other necessary relief materials to
the flood victims in Sajawal district. Hygiene kits and ration packs were given to
the affected families. In Dadu and Khairpur districts, with the support of Kuwait
Red Crescent, relief materials were distributed to flood-affected families. Aid
supplies included hygiene kits, tarpaulins, blankets, mosquito nets, and family
tents.
15,000 gallons of clean drinking water per day is being supplied from the water
treatment plants installed by the Red Crescent in the flood affected districts
including Dadu. Similarly, medical facilities were also provided in Swat , Nowshera
and Charsadda , Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Kark, relief materials were distributed
and flood affected people of Gilgit-Baltistan were also helped. Everyone of Red
Crescent including management, staff and volunteers are working round the clock
to deal with flood disasters and so far 266,275 victims have been given
emergency aid. Red Crescent is in contact with all international and local aid
agencies. 12,141 tents have been distributed. More than 23,000 victims have
been provided medical facilities and even today medical camps are fully
functional at 17 locations apart from seven mobile health units. One hundred and
ninety-one thousand seven hundred and four (191,704) flood victims have
benefited.More than 10,000 food parcels, more than 97,000 cooked food, more
than 16,000 mosquito nets, more than 14,000 hygiene kits, more than 54,000
non-food items ( (blankets, jerry cans, tarpaulin sheets, kitchen utensils etc.) have
been distributed and this is still going on. 5 million liters of clean and potable
water has been supplied to the affected areas. Water treatment plants in Sind,
Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are providing 80,000 liters of clean water
per plant on a daily basis.